Auto-playing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Data for a plurality of musical pieces is preset in a ROM pack and also on a tape recorder. Musical piece data read out from the ROM pack or tape recorder is supplied from a control section to melody generators, a chord generator, a bass generator and a rhythm generator. Melody data, chord data, and rhythm data obtained from these generators are coupled through an amplifier to a loudspeaker.

.Iadd.This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.07/275,439 filed Nov. 23, 1988 and now abandoned which is a reissue ofapplication Ser. No. 06/821,521 filed Jan. 23, 1986 and now U.S. Pat.No. 4,624,171 which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 06/597,168filed Apr. 5, 1984 and now abandoned..Iaddend.

.[.This application is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 597,168,filed Apr. 5, 1984..].

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an auto-playing apparatus for readingout and playing musical pieces preset in a memory device such as a ROMor a RAM.

Recently, there has been made available an auto-playing apparatus, whichcan read out and automatically play musical data preset in an internalmemory and which can also read out and automatically play musical datapreset in an external memory. These auto-playing apparatuses meet thedemand for automatically playing music. Particularly, the auto-playingapparatus which uses an external memory permits a variety of musicalpieces to be enjoyed by the user simply changing the external memory foranother. External memories, such as the so-called ROM packs may be used.The ROM packs, however, usually contain data for only a single musicalpiece. Therefore, it has been impossible to enjoy continuous playing ofa number of different musical pieces without frequently changing ROMpacks. Additionally, since in order to enjoy the automatic playing ofseveral different musical pieces, the corresponding number of ROM packsmust be purchased, the cost to the user is very high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide an auto-playing apparatus,which can read out and automatically play musical data for one or morepieces from one external memory.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided anauto-playing apparatus in which it is possible to designate the sequenceof music pieces to be played automatically, by using music data storedin an external music pack.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided anauto-playing apparatus in which a keyboard is provided for use both toenable a manual performance and for designating the music piecescontained in the memory pack.

According to still another aspect of the invention, there is provided anauto-playing apparatus in which it is possible to designate randomly thesequence of music pieces to be played automatically.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided anauto-playing apparatus in which an automatic performance can be realizedeither by use of a memory pack or a magnetic tape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are a plan view showing an auto-playing apparatusincorporating an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the same electronic musical instrument;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a ROM pack;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a display section when power is off;

FIG. 5 is a view showing an electrode arrangement of a liquid crystalpanel in the display section;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a circuit of the electronic musicalinstrument;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a control section 28 in the circuitshown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8A is a view showing the format of the melody and the obligato linedata;

FIG. 8B is a view showing the format of the chord line data;

FIG. 9A through 9G are views showing the formats of the ROM pack andmagnetic tape data, and showing the ROM address, the main header, themusical data, the musical piece header, the melody line, the obligatoline and the chord line, respectively;

FIGS. 10A through 10J are views showing various melody and obligato linedata, with FIGS. 10A-1 and 10A-2 showing note data, FIG. 10B showingrest data, FIGS. 10C-1 and 10C-2 showing repeat data, FIGS. 10D-1 to10D-3 showing timbre data, FIGS. 10E-1 to 10E-3 showing effect data,FIGS. 10F-1 to 10F-3 showing tie data, FIG. 10G showing time symboldata, FIG. 10H showing key symbol data, FIG. 10I showing bar data, andFIG. 10J showing end data;

FIGS. 11A to 11G show various chord line data, with FIG. 11A-1 to 11A-3showing chord name data, FIGS. 11B-1 and 11B-2 showing rest data, FIGS.11C-1 and 11C-2 showing repeat data, FIGS. 11D-1 to 11D-3 showingrhythm/fill-in/rhythm discrimination data, FIG. 11E showing tempo data,FIG. 11F showing counter reset data, and FIG. 11G showing end data;

FIG. 12 is a view showing note data;

FIG. 13 is a view showing tone duration data;

FIG. 14 is a view showing time symbol data;

FIG. 15 is a view showing key symbol data;

FIG. 16 is a view showing tempo data;

FIGS. 17 and 17B show an example of a music score;

FIGS. 18A to 18C are views showing the melody, obligato and chord linedata for the same music score;

FIG. 19 is a view showing the order of operating the keys when selectinga ROM pack, or a magnetic tape containing several musical pieces;

FIG. 20 is a view showing the order of operating the keys to randomlydesignate a ROM pack or magnetic tape containing several musical pieces;

FIG. 21 is a general flow chart showing how musical pieces areautomatically played according to the designated music sequence;

FIG. 22 is a flow chart illustrating how a musical piece is played;

FIG. 23 is a flow chart illustrating the tone data process step;

FIG. 24 is a flow chart illustrating the repeat process step;

FIGS. 25A to 25E are views showing examples of the repeat performanceand the repeat flag change;

FIG. 26 is a view showing a display section when a ROM pack is selected;and

FIG. 27 is a view showing a display section when a magnetic tape isselected.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1A and 1B show a plan view of an electronic musical instrument.The top of the electronic musical instrument 1 has a keyboard 2, aswitch section 3 having various switches, a sounding section 4, adisplay section 5 and a ROM (read only memory) pack setting section 6for setting a ROM pack 25. The bottom of the instrument, as shown inFIG. 2, has an interface circuit setting section 7, to which data from amagnetic tape (not shown) is supplied. The body of the instrumentaccomodates various circuit components, a battery and a loudspeaker.

The keyboard 2 consists of 31 keys from F₂ to B₄, for instance, for theusual manual operation. Of these keys, 16 white keys from G₂ to A₄ alsoserve as rhythm designation switches for designating rhythms from rockto swing (4-beat). Further, 10 white and black keys from C₄ to A₄ alsoserve as numeral keys for indicating the sequence of the pieces storedin the ROM pack 25 or in the magnetic tape. This sequence may be inputas a program or by random selection. For example, when the sequence isbeing programmed, C₄ key is used as a designating key, and when themusic sequence is randomly designated, B₃ key is used as a designationkey.

Switch groups 8 and 9 are provided to write data for the musical piecesand for the chords in an internal RAM to be described later. The switchgroup 8 designates the root, and the switch group 9 designates thechord. The pitch and tone duration of the musical data are input byoperating the keyboard 2. A one-key chord key 10 is provided for readingout the preset chord data and for sounding out the chords one by one.Volume switches 11, 12 and 13 are provided for controlling the mainvolume, the chord volume and the rhythm volume, respectively. Temposwitches 14A and 14B are provided to speed up and to slow down thetempo. A rhythm select switch 15 must be operated before designating arhythm by the 16 white keys noted above. The start/fill-in switch 16starts the automatic playing of the rhythm after the rhythm has beendesignated.

The demonstration switch 17 is used to repeatedly and sequentially playthe music pieces in the ROM pack. A R/MT switch 18 is used to selecteither the ROM pack or the magnetic tape depending on if it has beenoperated for an odd or even number of times.

Switches 19 and 20 are utilized as save and load switches for writingand reading music data, chord data etc. between the internal RAM andmagnetic tape. These switches are also used to transpose a played piece.Keys which are assembled in a predetermined sequence are changed everytime the switch 19 or 20 is operated. The key change can be reversed bythe switches 19 and 20.

Tone switches 21 are provided to designate 8 different timbres such aspiano or violin. Memory switches 22A to 22H are control switches whichare used when writing musical data, etc. in the internal RAM. The playswitch 22A is used to play-back. The switch 22B serves to stop rhythm,and to reset and release the internal RAM. The switch 22C writes melodydata (musical data). The chord switch 22D writes chord data. The recordswitch 22E writes musical data, etc. in the internal RAM. The switch 22Fincrements the addresses one by one. The delete switch 22G deletes datawritten in the internal RAM. The clear switch 22H clears the addresscounter, etc. One-key play switches 22I and 22J are provided to read outthe melody data of the internal RAM tone by tone for playing, and apower switch 23 is also shown. A cord 24 can connect with an interfacecircuit (not shown) in the interface circuit setting section 7 so thatdata can be transferred between the electronic musical instrument 1 anda magnetic tape inside a tape recorder (not shown) that is separate fromthe instrument 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ROM pack 25. It comprises a plasticcase 25A which accommodates a printed circuit board having an LSI (largescale integrated circuit) containing written musical data forpredetermined musical pieces, and a battery, etc. Terminals 25B and 25Care connected to a connector in the ROM pack setting section 6. Theplastic case 25A of the ROM pack 25 is labeled with the names of musicalpieces contained therein.

FIG. 4 is a plane view showing the display section 5 when the power isoff. The display section 5 includes a liquid crystal display panel. FIG.5 shows the electrode structure of the liquid crystal display panel. Itconsists of an upper keyboard display section 5A and a lower letterdisplay section 5B. In the keyboard display section 5A, the white andblack keys are displayed by liquid crystal having different colors.Shown as black dots on the individual keys are display points which areturned on when the corresponding keys are operated to indicate the pitchof the tone being used when the instrument is played manually orautomatically. The letter display section 5B has a display symbol"rhythm" which is turned on when rhythm is played, a display symbol"trans" which is turned on during transposition, a display symbol "R"which is turned on when the ROM pack 25 is used for automaticallyplaying, a display symbol "MT" which is turned on when the magnetic tapeis used for automatically playing, display elements 5B1 for displayingnumerals and chord, a display symbol "melody" which is turned on whenwriting melody data, a display symbol "chord" which is turned on whenwriting chord data, and bar display elements 5B2 which provide 8different timbres and which are turned on when a corresponding timbrehas been designated.

The circuitry of the electronic musical instrument will now be describedwith reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. Referring to FIG. 6. each key output onthe keyboard 2 is coupled to a key detection section 27, which producesa key code when the key is operated. The key code is fed to a controlsection 28. Outputs from various switches on the switch section 3 arealso fed to the control section 28. The control section 28 includes amicroprocessor, etc. and controls the entire operation of the electronicmusical instrument. More specifically, it provides a read/write controlsignal R/W to the internal RAM 29 to control its operation to write andto read data D such as musical data. At the same time, the controlsection 28 also provides address data Ad. For the ROM pack 25, thecontrol section 28 first presets the first address of the musical piecedata to be read out in an address counter 30, and then it reads thepiece data while incrementing the address counter 30. If further readsout musical piece data from a magnetic tape 32 in a tape recorder 31through an MT interface 33. For the manual operation of the keyboard orfor the automatic operation with the ROM pack 25 and the tape recorder31, the control section 28 feeds the necessary data for each function toa first melody generator 34, a second melody generator 35, a chordgenerator 36, a bass generator 37 and a rhythm generator 38. The firstmelody generator 34 generates melody data for a melody line to bedescribed later. The second melody generator 35 generates melody datafor an obligate line. The chord generator 36 generates chord data for achord line. The base generator 37 generates base data, and the rhythmgenerator 38 generates rhythm data. These data are fed through anamplifier 39 and a loudspeaker 40 to the sounding section 4.

The control section 28 further controls the display operation of thedisplay section 5.

FIG. 7 shows the construction of the circuit essential to the controlsection 28. When a program specifies a number of pieces that use the 12keys from B₃ to B₄ on the keyboard 2. piece sequence data is directlyand sequentially fed into the musical sequence memory 41 for storage.When a number of pieces are to be played randomly, data is preset in thecounter 43 of the random number generator 42. Every time the randomnumber generator 42 generates a random number data, the data is writtenas piece sequence data in the musical sequence memory 41. At the sametime, the counter 43 correspondingly decreases. When the count becomes 0the generation of random numbers is stopped. The musical sequence datain the musical sequence memory 41 is then fed either to the ROM pack 25or to the tape recorder 31. After the play switch 22A is operated,musical data for one piece of music is sequentially read out andtransferred through a data buffer 44 to the internal RAM 29.

A data register 45 is provided to store data for the melody line amongthe data read out from the ROM pack 25 or magnetic tape 32. Data inputto the data register 45 is the transferred to a data identifying section46. If the input data is tone duration data, the data identifyingsection 46 will set it in the tone duration register 47. If it is repeatflag data, the section 46 will feed it to a 2-bit repeat flag (RF)register 48, and thence to an address control section 49. If the datainput to the data identifying section 46 is any other type of data,e.g., pinch, timbre, effect, etc., it is fed to the first melodygenerator 34.

A time measuring counter (timer) 50 feeds time count data to the toneduration register 47. The tone duration data in the tone durationregister 47 is decreased by 1 every time the time count data is changedto correspond to a predetermined unit of time. When the tone durationdata becomes 0, a one-shot signal is fed to the address control section49. As will be described later, the tone duration data consists ofON-duration data (when the tone is audible) and OFF-duration data (whenno tone is audible).

The address control section 49 includes an address counter (ADC) 51, areturn address register (RAD) 52, and a jump address register (JAD) 53.When automatic playing begins, the first address of the piece is presetin the address counter 51 which is progressively incremented as theplaying progresses. To change the address for the repeat function, datais transferred according to repeat flag data between the return addressregister 52 and the jump address register 53, and the address register51. The address data provided from the address counter 51 is supplied tothe internal RAM 29 for reading the next data. The data register 45,data identifying section 46, tone duration register 47, time measuringcounter 50, repeat flag register 48 and address control section 49 areshown only for the data from the melody line. Although not shown, thesame circuit can be provided for data from the obligato line, or thatfrom the chord line.

An ON flag (F ON) register 54 is a one-bit register in which "1" is setwhile the tone is on and "0" is set while it is off. The same ON flagregister is also provided for the obligato line and chord line dataalthough they are not shown.

FIG. 8A shows the format of the melody and obligato line tone data for atone stored in the ROM pack 25 or on the magnetic tape 32. The formatconsists of a total of 6 digits, including a 4-bit note code (SC), a4-bit octave code (OC), an 8-bit ON-duration code and an 8-bitOFF-duration code. This format is also used for rest data. FIG. 8B showsthe format for chord line tone data. It consists of a total of 4 digits,including a 4-bit note code (SC) indicative of the name of the root, a4-bit octave code (OC) indicative of the kind of chord used, and an8-bit ON-duration code. FIG. 12 shows specific examples of the note code(SC) and octave code (OC). Notes F₃ to B5 are used for the note code andoctave code for the melody line, and notes F₃ to B₅ are used for thosein the obligato line. FIG. 13 shows examples of data representing ON andOFF duration. The tone duration data is largely classified into normaltone duration data having small values or into double duration datahaving larger values. Normal tone duration is expressed as 8-bit data.Its upper 4 bits are designated at L₂, and its lower 4 bits aredesignated at L₁. The scope of tone duration covers 16 different tonedurations from a triplet of sixty-fourth notes to a dotted whole note.The double duration data includes upper 8-bit data in addition to the8-bit data L₂ and L₁ noted above. Of the additional 8-bit data, theupper 4 bits are designated at U₁, and the lower 4 bits are designatedat U₂. The double tone duration covers 16 different durations from twiceto 512 times the whole note.

Thus in this embodiment, a total of 32 different tone durations areused.

FIGS. 9A to 9G show data formats adopted for the ROM pack 25. Morespecifically, FIG. 9A shows the overall data format. It comprises a mainheader (having addresses 0 to α₁ -1), musical pieces data areas for nmusical pieces (with addresses α₁ to γ₁ -1, the first addresses for theindividual pieces being α₁, α₂, . . . , α_(n), n being an integralnumber), and vacant areas (with addresses γ to BFCF), unused areas (BFDOto BFFF). The total storage capacity is 4 bits by 49,152 digits.

FIG. 9B shows the data format of the main header. The head 11-digit areais for writing work data as shown. The next 4-digit area is for writingthe number n of pieces. The next 6-digit area is for writing the headaddress of the vacant area. The next individual 6-digit areas are forwriting the head addresses of the pieces from No. 1 to No. n. The next6-digit area is for writing the head address of the vacant area.

FIG. 9C shows the data format of each musical piece data area. Here, thetypical musical piece data of the first piece (No. 1) is shown. Itcomprises from the head thereof a piece header, melody data, obligatodata and chord data. Symbols δ₁, δ₂ and δ₃ represent the initialaddresses of the melody data, obligato data and chord data,respectively.

FIG. 9D shows the data format of the piece header. The head 2-digit areais for writing all "0" data. The next 6-digit area is for writing themelody data head address δ₁. The next 2-digit area is a 2-digit gap. Thenext 6-digit area is for writing the obligato data head address δ₂. Thenext 2-digit area is a 2-digit gap. The next 6-digit area is for writingthe chord data head address δ₃.

FIG. 9E shows the data format of the melody line data. The head dataarea is for a rest (the duration being 0). Then, bar data, time data,key data and timbre ON data are written. After that, if there is aneffect ON in the music score, its data is written. Then the note data ofthe music score is written. Then the timbre OFF data and effect OFFdata, if any, are written along with the end data.

FIG. 9F shows the data format of the obligato line data. The head dataarea is for a rest (the duration being 0). Then timbre ON data andeffect ON data, if any, are written. Then the note data on the musicscore, the timbre OFF data, effect OFF data and END data are written,respectively.

FIG. 9G shows the data format of chord line data. The head data area isfor a rest (the duration being 0). Then, the counter reset data iswritten. The counter is provided in the rhythm generator 38 shown inFIG. 6 and counts the time of the rhythm being generated. Subsequent tothe counter reset data, rhythm discrimination data, tempo ON data, restdata and rhythm ON data are written. Then the individual chord datadepending on the music score, the rhythm OFF data, the tempo OFF dataand the END data are written.

FIGS. 10A through 10J show examples of the various data described aboveused as the melody and obligato line data. More specifically, FIGS.10A-1 and 10A-2 show note data. FIG. 10A-1 shows normal tone durationdata in which the tone duration is shorter than triplet of thirty-secondnotes. It comprises 2-digit pitch data consisting of a note code (SC)and an octave code (OC), 2-digit tone duration data L₁, L₂ representingthe ON duration, and 2-digit rest duration data L₁, L₂ representing theOFF duration.

FIG. 10A-2 shows double duration data, in which the tone duration isequal to or longer than a triplet of thirty-second notes. It comprises:the pitch data SC, OC; tone duration data L₁, L₂ ; rest duration dataL₁, L₂ ; 2-digit double duration command data; upper bit tone durationdata (2 digits) u₁, u₂ ; and rest duration data (2 digits) u₁, u₂.

FIG. 10B shows the rest data. The rest is shorter than a triplet ofthirty-second notes and is provided at the head of the melody andobligato line data (the rest duration being 0 in this case). It is alsoused when there is a rest immediately after the repeat data to bedescribed layer. It comprises rest duration command (2 digits) and restduration data (2 digits).

FIGS. 10C-1 and 10C-2 show a specific example of the repeat data. FIG.10C-1 shows its configuration. It comprises repeat command data (2digits, to be described later) and no chord data (4 digits). FIG. 10C-2shows 10 different examples of the repeat command.

FIGS. 10D-1 to 10D-3 show examples of timbre data. FIG. 10D-1 showstimbre ON and OFF data which is less than a triplet of thirty-secondnotes. Each data consists of timbre command data (2 digits), timbre data(2 digits) to be described later, and rest duration data L₁ and L₂ (2digits) representing a rest lasting for at least one time. Mark xindicates variable data. FIG. 10D-2 shows timbre ON and OFF data inwhich the time is 32/3 or greater. Each data consists of: timbre commanddata; timbre data; rest duration data (lower bit data) L₁, L₂ ; doubleduration command data (2 digits); no chord data (2 digits); and 2-digitrest duration data u1, u2 (upper bit data). FIG. 10D-3 shows 8 differenttimbre data for piano, etc.

FIGS. 10E-1 to 10E-3 show examples of effect data. FIG. 10E-1 showseffect ON and OFF data which is less than a triplet of thirty-secondnotes. Each data consists of effect command data (2 digits), effect data(2 digits) to be described later and rest duration data (2 digits) L₁and L₂. FIG. 10E-2 shows data which is larger than a triplet ofthirty-second notes. In this case, each data consists of: effect commanddata; effect data; rest duration data (lower bit data) L₁, L₂ ; doubleduration command data (2 digits); no-chord data (2 digits); and restduration data (uppper bit data) u₁, u₂. FIG. 10E-3 shows three differentexamples of effect data (short sustain, vibrato and delay vibrato).

FIGS. 10F-1 to 10F-3 show examples of tie data. FIG. 10F-1 shows tie ONand OFF data. Each data consists of tie command data (2 digits) andno-chord data (4 digits). FIG. 10F-2 shows an example of a tie data asit appears in a musical score. Note data is inserted after the ON andOFF commands of the tie data. FIG. 10F-3 shows data representing thecontents of the score shown in FIG. 10F-2.

FIG. 10G shows an example of time symbol data. It consists of: a timesymbol command (2 digits); time symbol data (2 digit data) L, u to bedescribed later; and no-chord data (2 digits). FIG. 14 shows thespecific data of the time symbols L, u. The symbols L and u representthe numerator and denominator of the time.

FIG. 10H shows an example of key symbol data. It consists of: key symbolcommand data (2 digits); key symbols (2 digits) L, u to be describedlater; and no-chord data (2 digits). FIG. 15 shows a specific example ofthe key symbol L, u.

FIG. 10I shows an example of bar data. It consists of bar command data(2 digits) and no-chord (4 digits) data. It is provided at the head ofthe melody line data.

FIG. 10J shows an example of end data. It consists of 6 digits and isprovided at the end of the melody and obligato line data.

FIGS. 11A-1 through 11G show examples of the various data noted for thechord line. FIGS. 11A-1 to 11A-3 show chord name data. FIG. 11A-1 showschord name data when the duration of a nomal chord is less than atriplet of thirty-second notes. It consists of root data SC (to bedescribed later), the chords name OC (to be described later), and2-digit chord duration data L₁, L₂. FIG. 11A-2 shows chord name datawhen the duration is equal to or longer than a triplet of thirty-secondnotes. It consists of: root data SC; chord name data OC; 2-digit chordduration data (lower bit data) L₁, L₂ ; double duration command data (2digits); and 2-digit chord duration data (upper bit data) u₁, u₂. FIG.11A-3 shows examples of the chord name data. Sixteen different chordnames are shown. In the figure, "off chord" means the sole bass sound,and "no chord" means the absence of any tone.

FIGS. 11B-1 and 11B-2 show examples of rest data. FIG. 11B-1 shows restdata when the normal duration is less than a triplet of thirty-secondnotes. It consists of rest command data (2 digits) and rest durationdata (2 digits) L₁, L₂. FIG. 11B-2 shows rest data when the doubleduration is equal to or longer than a triplet of thirty-second notes. Itconsists of: rest command data; rest duration data (lower bit data) L₁,L₂ ; double duration command data (2 digits); and rest duration (2digits) u₁, u₂. It is provided at the head of chord line data when thechord duration is 0. Because of the chord rest data, the previous chordis held. The rest data is further used when such data as repeat, rhythmand fill-in data are inserted between chords.

FIGS. 11C-1 and 11C-2 show an example of repeat data. FIG. 11C-1 showsthe data structure. It consists of repeat command data (2 digits) to bedescribed later and no-chord data (2 digits). FIG. 11C-2 shows examplesof the repeat command. Ten different repeat commands are prepared asshown.

FIGS. 11D-1 to 11D-3 show rhythm/fill-in/rhythm discrimination data.FIG. 11D-1 shows its ON and OFF data structures. Each data consists ofrhythm/fill-in/thythm discrimination command data (2 digits) and rhythmdata (2 digits) to be described later. FIG. 11D-2 shows rhythm/fill-incommand data. It consists of rhythm command data, fill-in command data,and thythm discrimination command data, each having 2 digits. FIG. 11D-3shows 17 different kinds of rhythm data for rock, etc., having 2-digits.

FIG. 11E shows the ON and OFF data of the tempo data. Each data consistsof tempo command data (2 digits) and tempo data (2 digits) to bedescribed later. FIG. 16 shows specific tempo data. The bit shown assymbol x represents ON tempo data as "0" and OFF tempo data as "0".

FIG. 11F shows counter reset data. It consists of 4 digits.

FIG. 11G shows end data. It consists of 4 digits, and is provided at theend of the chord line data.

FIG. 17A and 17B show an example of musical piece stored in the ROM pack25 or on the magnetic tape 32. The score shown is "Air on G String" byBach.

Numbers shown between the melody and obligato lines represent themeasure number. In the music score shown in FIG. 17, the melody,obligato and chord line data are shown in FIGS. 18A to 18C. Individualdata is written in a variety of formats as described in connection withFIGS. 10A to 10J and 11A to 11G. In FIGS. 17A and 17B, and 18A and 18C,the circled letters indicate an off chord, and symbol NC indicates whenno chord is present.

The operation of the above embodiment will now be described withreference to FIGS. 19 through 27.

First, a given ROM pack 25 is set in the ROM pack setting section 6. Thcord 24 leading from the tape recorder 31 is connected to the interfacecircuit provided in the interface circuit setting section 7. Then, thepower switch 23 of the electronic musical instrument 1 is turned on,making it ready to automatically play using the ROM pack 25 or themagnetic tape 32.

To specify the pieces to be automatically played from the ROM pack 25,the number of the piece is entered into the music sequence memory 41 byoperating the keys shown in FIG. 19. First, the R/MT switch 18 isoperated for an odd number of times. The output of this key is fed tothe control section 28. The control section 28 decides that the ROM pack25 is selected (steps S₁ and S₂) in the flow chart of FIG. 21). Ifpieces having the numbers 5, 2, 14, 9, and 17, for instance, aredesignated, the data for these pieces is input one after another byoperating the 12 keys from B₃ to B₄ as shown in FIG. 19. Since theprogram key for note B₄ is operated, the random number generator 42 isnot rendered operative, and the designated musical sequence having 5pieces is written as such in the musical sequence memory 41 (steps S₄and S₈). When the play switch 22A is subsequently operated, thedesignated musical pieces are read out from the ROM pack 25 and areautomatically played (steps S₉ and S₁₀).

When the R/MT switch 18 is also operated for an odd number of times toinput random musical sequence data in the music sequence memory 41,steps S₁ and S₂ are executed. When 10 music pieces are to be selected,for instance, random designation data is input by operating the randomkey for not E B₃. The designation is detected in step S₄, and the number10 is then set in the counter 43 in the random number generator 42. Atthe same time, the random number generator 42 is operated to generaterandom number data one by one to be written in the music sequence memory41 (steps S₅ and S₆). At this time, the data 10 which has been set inthe counter 43 is decreased by one every time one random number isgenerated. When 10 random numbers have been generated and written in themusical sequence memory 41, the counter 43 becomes 0. This is detectedin step S₇, which renders the random number generator 42 inoperative.When the play switch 22A is subsequently operated, a music piece isautomatically played (steps S₉ and S₁₀).

When selecting musical pieces preset on the magnetic tape 32, the R/MTswitch 18 is operated for an even numbers of times, whereby datarepresenting the selection of the magnetic tape 32 is fed to the controlsection 28. As for the rest of the sequence, the key operation procedureis entirely the same as that shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. Subsequent tostep S₁, step S₃ is executed in which the magnetic tape designation datais stored in the control section 28. Step S₁₀ in FIG. 21 checks if anymusical sequence data has been preset in the musical sequence memory 41,i.e., if all the preset data music pieces have been played.

When the ROM pack 25 is selected, the symbol "R" is displayed on thedisplay section 5 as shown in FIG. 26. When the magnetic tape 32 isselected, the symbol "MT" is displayed as shown in FIG. 27.

The automatic playing step S₉ will now be described in detail withreference to the flow charts of FIGS. 22 through 24. When the routine isstarted, the number of the first piece is read out from the musicalsequence memory 41. When the ROM pack 25 has been selected, the controlsection 28 sets the initial address of the read-out piece data in theaddress counter 30. Then it proceeds to read out the musical data forone piece of music from the ROM pack 25 while at the same timeincrementing the address counter 30, the read-out data being written inthe internal RAM 29 through the buffer 44. When the data of one piece iswritten in the internal RAM 29, the automatic play of the piece isstarted.

More specifically, the control section 28 sets the initial address ofthe internal RAM 29 in the address counter (ADC) 51 (step M₁ in FIG.22). The data designated by the ADC is then read out and fed to thecontrol section 28 (step M₂). The control section 28 then discriminatesthe data as being tone data, repeat data or end data (step M₃). If thedata is determined to be tone data, step M₄ of the tone data process isexecuted. More particularly, the control section 28 feeds data based onthe tone data to the first melody generator 34, the second melodygenerator 35, the chord generator 36, the bass generator 37 and to therhythm generator 38 to generate the respective tone signals which arethen coupled through the amplifier 39 and loudspeaker 40 to produce anaudible sound from the sounding section 4. At this time, tone generationis effected simultaneously with the melody and obligato line data in thefirst and second melody generators 34 and 35. Further, chord, bass andrhythm are simultaneously generated according to chord line data in thechord generator 36, the bass generator 37 and the rhythm generator 38.Steps of tone data process will be described later in detail withreference to the flow chart of FIG. 23.

After the simultaneous tone data process for the melody, obligato andchord lines in step M₄ has been executed, step M₆ is executed, causingthe control section 28 to increase the address counter 51 by 4 for thechord line while increasing both the melody and obligato lines by 6. Theroutine then returns to step M₂ to read out the next data.

If the discriminated data in the step M₃ is repeat data, step M₅ of therepeat process is executed, which will be described later in detail withreference to the flow chart of FIG. 24. When this process is completed,step M₆ is executed, and the routine is returned to step M₂. If thediscriminated data is end data, which means that the piece play hasended, a check is done to see if there is more music sequence data.Since only the first piece has ended, the instrument automaticallybegins to play the second piece. When all of the pieces within thepreset sequence have been played, the automatic play function stops.

Step M₄ of tone data process will now be described with reference to theflow chart of FIG. 23. The tone data read out from the ROM pack 25 isset in the data register 45. When the process is started, the timemeasuring counter 50 is reset (step N₁). Then, the data-identifyingsection 46 identifies the tone data as being note data, timbre data, andso on for the melody and obligato lines, or as being chord data, rhythmdata or tempo data, etc. for the chord line (step N₂). If the identifieddata is note or chord data, step S₃ is executed to check if the ON flag(F ON) 54 has the value of "1". If the identified data is other thannote or chord data, step N₁₇ is executed to set or reset the timbre,rhythm, or tempo, etc. When this has been completed, the process isshifted to judge the next tone data.

The ON flag 54 has the value "1" only when a tone is being sounded,otherwise it is "0". If it is "0", the tone or chord is made audible inthe manner described in step N₄, and the ON flag 54 is set to "1" (stepN₅). After that, the ON-duration data is set in the tone durationregister 47 (step N₆). The data-identifying section 46 then checks tosee if the next data is double duration data. If it is not, step N₉ isexecuted. If it is, step N₈ is executed to add the double duration data(i.e., upper bit data u₁, u₂ of the tone duration data) to the lower bitdata L₁, L₂ set in the tone duration register 47. Then, thedata-identifying section 46 checks to see if the data in the toneduration register 47 is 0 (step N₉). If it is not "0", step N₁₁ isexecuted to see if the time count data of the time measuring counter 50has been read and if the unit time (Δt) has lapsed. If the prescribedunit time has not yet lapsed, steps N₁₁ and N₁₂ are repeatedly executed.When the unit time has lapsed, step N₁₃ is executed, and the toneduration register 47 is decreased by 1. Next, step N₉ is executed. Thesteps N₉, N₁₁, N₁₂ and N₁₃ are repeatedly executed until the ON time haslapsed. When the ON time has lapsed so that the contents of the toneduration register 47 are 0, step N₁₀ is executed to see if the ON flag54 having the value of "1" has been checked. Since the ON flag 54 hasthe value "1" at this time, steps N₁₄ and N₁₅ are executed to set theOFF time in the tone duration register 47. Then the ON flag 54 changesits value to "0" (step N₁₆). Step N₉ is executed, and the steps N₉, N₁₁,N₁₂ and N₁₃ are executed until the OFF time has lapsed so that thecontents of the tone duration register 47 are "0". When the OFF time haslapsed, step N₁₀ is executed. Since the ON flag 54 has the value of "0",the process is repeated for the next tone data.

Step M₅ of repeat process will now be described with reference to theflow chart of FIG. 24. A piece in which repeat play occurs is shown inFIG. 25A. In the figure, the process of the piece is indicated by thecircled letters ○a to ○1 . and by the numerals 0, 1, 2 and 3 whichrepresent the respective contents of the repeat flag (RF) register 48.When the repeat command data as shown in FIG. 10C-2 is registered in thedata register 45, the repeat process is started. The data identifyingsection 46 identifies if the repeat symbol is, or , when N has a valuefrom 1 to 8 (step P₁). If it is identified as a symbol , data 0 is setin the repeat flag register 48 (step P₆). Then the prevailing data (a)in the address counter (ADC) 51 is set in the return address register(RAD) (step P₇). Then step M₆ (FIG. 22), i.e., the switching ON and OFFof the quarter note and the eighth note, is executed. When repeat datais read out at the step ○d , the repeat process is started, and thesymbol is identified in step P₁. Thus, step P₁₀ is executed to check ifthe contents of the repeat flag 48 are "1", greater than "1", or lessthan "1". Since the contents are "0", i.e., less than "1", at thismoment, step P₂₂ is executed, and data "1" is set in the repeat flagregister 48. Then step M₆, i.e., the ON and OFF process for the nexthalf-note at the step ○e , is executed. When the repeat symbol at ○f isfed to the data register 45, the repeat process is started once again,and the sequence continues from step P₁ to step P₂.

In step P₂, a check is done to see if the contents of the repeat flag 48is "2", greater than "2", or less than "2". Since it is less than "2" atthis time, step P₃ is executed in which the prevailing value ○f in theaddress register 51 is set in the jump address register (JAD) 53. Then,the value of data 2 is set in the repeat flag register 48 (step P₄). Theaddress of the repeat data (symbol ) stored in the return addressregister 52 is set in the address counter 51 (step P₅). Then the stepM₆, i.e., the process for the next tone data, i.e., the quarter note at○b , is started.

The repeat data at ○d , i.e., symbol , is set again in the data register45 after the ON and OFF process of the quarter note and eighth note at○b and ○c , and after the repeat play has been executed. Following this,step P₁ and the step P₁₀ are executed. Since the repeat flag registercontents have the value of "2", i.e., greater than "1", Step P₁₁ isexecuted to set the data ○f in the jump address register 53 in theaddress counter 51. The contents of the address counter 51 areincremented by 2, and the data of the address ○h is read out and storedinto the data register 45 (steps P₁₂ and P₁₃). Step P₁₄ is executed tocheck the data . Then the contents of the address counter 51 isdecreased by 1 to ○g (step P₁₅) and are set in the jump address register53 (step P₁₆). Then the address counter 51 is increased by 1 to ○h (stepP₁₇). The data having the value "3" is then set in the repeat flagregister 48 (step P₁₈), and the contents of the address counter 51 areincreased by 1 to ○i (step P₁₉). Then the dotted half note at ○i is readout (step P₂₀), and judged to see if it has the value (step P₂₁). Sinceit is not , step P₂₄ is executed, and the address counter 51 isdecreased by 1 to ○h . Then step M₆ of the tone ON and tone OFF processon the dotted half note in ○i is executed.

When it has been detected in the step P₁ that the repeat symbol in thescore at ○j has been read, step P₂ is executed. Since the repeat flaghas a value of "3", i.e., greater than "2", step P₄ is executed, inwhich data having a value of 2 is set in the repeat flag register 48.Then step P₅ is executed, in which the address ○a in the return addressregister 52 is set in the address counter 51. Next, step M₆ whichproduces the tones at ○b and ○c is executed. When it has been detectedin step P₁ that the symbol at d has been read out, step P₁₀ is executed.Since the repeat flag data is "2", i.e., greater than "1", step P₁₁ isexecuted, and the address ○g in the jump address counter 53 is set inthe address counter 51 which is increased by "2" to ○i (step P₁₂). Thenthe data representing the dotted half note, is read out (step P₁₃), andstep P₁₄ is executed. In step P₁₄, the data is judged not to be thesymbol . Thus, data having the value of 1 is set in the repeat flagregister 28 (step P₂₃), and the address counter 51 is decreased by 1 to○h . Then the routine is returned to the step M₆ to reproduce the dottedhalf note in ○i .

When it has been detected in the step P₁ that the repeat symbol at ○jhas been read out, step P₂ is executed. Since the repeat flag data is"1", i.e., smaller than "2", step P₃ is executed, and the prevailingvalue ○j in the address counter 5 is set in the jump address register53. Then data having the value of 2 is set in the repeat flag register48 (step P₄), and the address ○a in the return address register 52 isset in the address counter 51 (step P₅). Then the routine once againreturns to step M₆ to reproduce the tones at ○b and ○c .

When it has been detected in step P₁ that the symbol at ○d has been readout again, step P₁₀ is executed. Since the repeat flag data is "2",i.e., greater than 1, step P₁₁ is executed, and the address ○j in thejump address counter 53 is set in the address counter 51. The addresscounter 51 is then increased by 2 to ○l (step P₁₂). Then the data, i.e.,the whole note, is read out (step P₁₃). In the next step P₁₄, the datais judged not to be the symbol . Thus, step P₂₃ is executed; the data"1" is set in the repeat flag register 48; and the address counter 51 isdecreased by 1 to ═k (step P₂₄). The routine is then returned to thestep M₆ to reproduce the whole note.

While the repeat process which has been described above in connectionwith the musical score shown in FIG. 25A, FIGS. 25B to 25E show how thecontents of the repeat flag register 48 vary in other music pieceshaving repetition. In all of these cases, the repeat play is executed inaccordance with the flow chart of FIG. 24. The repeat flag data "0"indicates that a new musical phrase has been entered after the repeatsymbol has been read out. The repeat flag data "1" indicates thatanother phrase is selected when the repeat flag data has the value of 2,or when the symbol is read out when the repeat flag data is 2 or 3 andthe data preceding by two pieces of data is not . The repeat flag data"2" indicates that the repeat symbol has been read out when the repeatflag data is other than 2. The repeat flag data having the value of "3"indicates that the symbol read out when the repeat flag data is 1, andalso that the data preceding by 2 is the symbol when the repeat flagdata is either 2 or 3.

While in the above embodiment a ROM pack has been used, a RAM pack mayalso be used. Also, any magnetic recording device other than themagnetic tape recorder may be utilized.

As has been described in the foregoing, the automatically playinginstrument according to the invention has a memory pack containing datafor a plurality of musical pieces which can be selected andautomatically played. Thus, complex musical pieces can be automaticallyplayed more inexpensively than with the prior art apparatus of thiskind.

Additionally, with the auto-playing apparatus according to the inventiona memory pack and a magnetic recording apparatus such as a tape recorderwith musical piece data preset therein may be used, either one of whichmay be selectively used for automatic playing. Thus, the automaticplaying music may be readily enjoyed without requiring the connection ofa recording medium when changing the recorded media.

Further, with the auto-playing apparatus according to the invention, amemory pack is used in which melody, obligato data, and chord data whichare to be played simultaneously in one musical piece are sequentiallystored as musical data so that a plurality of different melodies can beautomatically and simultaneously played with chords. Thus, automaticplaying having richer musical expression can be obtained.

Still further, with the auto-playing apparatus according to theinvention, a memory pack is used in which musical piece data containingrepeat data is stored and in which a musical phrase can be repeatedlyand automatically played according to the previously read-out repeatdata. Thus, musical pieces having a number of repeated phrases can bestored using less of the memory.

Moreover, with the auto-playing apparatus according to the inventionautomatic playing can be obtained with a memory pack which storesmusical piece data including pitch and tone duration data, and whichalso includes command data indicating which tone duration data is longerthan the predetermined reference duration. Thus, tone duration datahaving a large value can be obtained using only a minimum amount of thememory, and automatic playing having a richer sound can be obtained.

What is claimed is:
 1. An auto-playing apparatus of the kind including acase containing electronic circuitry and having a setting section forreceiving an external .[.memory pack.]. .Iadd.means for storingelectrical signals.Iaddend., comprising:.[.a memory pack adapted tobe.]. .Iadd.means for storing electrical signals .Iaddend.removably setin the setting section provided in the case of the apparatus forelectrical coupling to the circuits in the case, said .[.memory packhaving.]. .Iadd.storing means storing electrical signals in digital formrelated to .Iaddend.music data .[.on.]. .Iadd.corresponding to.Iaddend.a plurality of music pieces .[.in digital form.]., andrespective musical number data corresponding to each of said pluralityof music pieces; a keyboard with keys corresponding to pitches ofseveral octaves to enable execution of a manual play; a switch.Iadd.means .Iaddend.for designating a manual play or an automatic playaccording to the music data stored in said .[.memory pack.]..Iadd.storing means.Iaddend., some of the keys in said keyboard, whensaid switch .[.designating.]. .Iadd.means designates .Iaddend.theautomatic play, being set to operate as designating keys for selectivelydesignating musical number data corresponding to the plurality of themusic pieces which are stored in said .[.memory pack.]. .Iadd.storingmeans.Iaddend.; a memory .Iadd.means .Iaddend.coupled to said switch.Iadd.means.Iaddend.and said designating keys of said keyboard, forstoring musical number data in response to operation of said designatingkeys in said keyboard when said switch .Iadd.means.Iaddend.designatesthe automatic play; control means, coupled to said .[.memory pack.]..Iadd.storing means .Iaddend.and said memory .Iadd.means.Iaddend., forreading the music data in said .[.memory pack.]. .Iadd.storing means.Iaddend.corresponding to the musical number data in said memory.Iadd.means .Iaddend.and for outputting the music data; and reproducingmeans, coupled to said control means, said keyboard and said switch.Iadd.means .Iaddend.for reproducing, when said switch .Iadd.means.Iaddend.designates the manual play, the music corresponding to the keysof said keyboard, and for reproducing, when said switch means designatesthe automatic play, the music in accordance with the music dataoutputted by said control means.
 2. The auto-playing apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein said memory .Iadd.means .Iaddend.stores, indesignated order, the musical number data on a plurality of music piecesin response to operation of the designated keys of said keyboard, andsaid control means repeatedly reads in the order of the musical numberdata stored in said memory .Iadd.means .Iaddend.the music data in said.[.memory pack.]. .Iadd.storing means .Iaddend.corresponding to themusical number data in said memory .Iadd.means .Iaddend.to output themusic data to said reproducing means.
 3. An auto-playing apparatus ofthe kind including a case containing electronic circuitry .[.and havinga setting section for receiving an external memory pack.].,comprising:.[.a memory pack adapted to be removably set in the settingsection provided in the case of the apparatus for electrical coupling tothe circuits in the case, said memory pack having music data on.]..Iadd.means for storing electrical signals in digital form related tomusic data corresponding to .Iaddend.a plurality of music pieces, .[.indigital form.]. and respective musical number data corresponding to eachof said .Iadd.plurality .Iaddend.of music pieces; .Iadd.a keyboard withkeys corresponding to pitches of several octaves to enable execution ofa manual play; switch means for designating the manual play or anautomatic play according to the music data stored in said storing means,at least one of the keys in said keyboard, when said switch meansdesignates the automatic play, being set to operate as a designating keyfor randomly selecting the music pieces;.Iaddend. a generator.Iadd.means .Iaddend.for randomly generating designating data forselectively designating musical number data of said music data which arestored in said .[.memory pack.]. .Iadd.storing means;.Iaddend. a memory.Iadd.means.Iaddend., coupled to said generator .Iadd.means.Iaddend.,for storing as musical number data the designating data randomlygenerated by said generator .Iadd.means.Iaddend.; control means, coupledto said .[.memory pack.]. .Iadd.storing means .Iaddend.and said memory.Iadd.means.Iaddend., for .Iadd.reading .Iaddend.the music data in said.[.memory pack.]. .Iadd.storing means .Iaddend.corresponding to themusical number data in said memory .Iadd.means .Iaddend.and foroutputting the music data; and reproducing means, coupled to saidcontrol means, .Iadd.said keyboard, and said switch means forreproducing, when said switch means designates the manual play, themusic corresponding to the keys of said keyboard, and .Iaddend.forreproducing.Iadd., when said switch means designates the automatic play,the .Iaddend.music in accordance with the music data outputted by saidcontrol means.
 4. The auto-playing apparatus according to claim 3,wherein said generator .Iadd.means .Iaddend.randomly generates thedesignating data a number of times set by a user, said memory.Iadd.means .Iaddend.stores in generated order the designating datagenerated from said generator .Iadd.means.Iaddend., and said controlmeans repeatedly reads.Iadd., .Iaddend.in the order of the musicalnumber data stored in said memory .Iadd.means.Iaddend., the music datain said .[.memory pack.]. .Iadd.storing means .Iaddend.corresponding tothe musical number data in said memory .Iadd.means .Iaddend.to outputthe music data to said reproducing means.
 5. An auto-playing apparatusof the kind including a case containing electronic circuitry and havinga setting section for receiving an external memory .[.pack.]..Iadd.device.Iaddend., comprising:.[.a memory pack adapted to be.]..Iadd.means for storing electrical signals .Iaddend.removably set in thesetting section provided in the case of the apparatus for electricalcoupling to the circuits in the case, said .[.memory pack.]..Iadd.storing means .Iaddend.storing .Iadd.electrical signals in digitalform related to .Iaddend.music data .[.on.]. .Iadd.corresponding to.Iaddend.a plurality of music pieces .[.in digital form, a.]..Iadd., and.Iaddend.respective musical number data corresponding to each of saidmusic pieces; magnetic-tape reproducing means, adapted to be connectedto an input on the case of the apparatus, for reproducing music datamagnetically recorded on a magnetic tape in digital form; an interface.Iadd.means.Iaddend., coupled to said magnetic-tape reproducing meanswhen said magnetic-tape reproducing means is connected to the input onthe case, for converting the music data from a magneticrecording/reproducing signal reproduced by said magnetic-tapereproducing means into music data in the form of digital data;designating data means for selectively designating musical number dataon a plurality of music pieces which are stored in said .[.memorypack.]. .Iadd.storing means.Iaddend.; a memory .Iadd.means.Iaddend.,coupled to said designating means for storing the musical number datadesignated by said designating means; switch means for selecting anautomatic play according to one of the music data stored in said.[.memory pack.]. .Iadd.storing means .Iaddend.and the music datarecorded on said magnetic tape; control means, coupled to said .[.memorypack.]. .Iadd.storing means.Iaddend., to said memory.Iadd.means.Iaddend., to said interface .Iadd.means.Iaddend.and to saidswitch means, for .Iadd.(1).Iaddend.reading the musical number datastored in said memory .Iadd.means.Iaddend., when said switch meansselects the automatic play according to said .[.memory pack.]..Iadd.storing means.Iaddend., the music data stored in said .[.memorypack.]. .Iadd.storing means .Iaddend.corresponding to the musical numberdata in said memory .[.and.]. .Iadd.means, (2).Iaddend.to output thestored music data, .[.and.]. .Iadd.(3).Iaddend.for inputting andstoring, when said switch .Iadd.means.Iaddend.selects the automatic playaccording to said magnetic tape, the music data outputted from saidinterface .Iadd.means.Iaddend., and .Iadd.(4).Iaddend.to output therecorded music data; and reproducing means, coupled to said controlmeans, for reproducing music in accordance with the music data outputtedby said control means.
 6. The auto-playing apparatus according to claim5, wherein said interface is adapted to be removably set in the case ofsaid apparatus for electrical connection to said magnetic tapereproducing means and said control means.
 7. An auto-playing apparatusof the kind including a case containing electronic circuitry .[.andhaving a setting section for receiving an external memory pack.].,comprising:.[.a memory pack adapted to be removably set in the settingsection provided in the case of the apparatus for electrical coupling tothe circuits in the case, said memory pack means having.]. .Iadd.meansfor storing electrical signals in digital form related to .Iaddend.musicdata .[.on.]. .Iadd.corresponding to .Iaddend.a plurality of musicpieces .[.in digital form.]., said music data in said .[.memory pack.]..Iadd.storing means .Iaddend.including pitch data, tone duration dataand command data indicative of the fact that the value of tone durationdata is greater than a reference value, and respective musical numberdata corresponding to each of said plurality of music pieces;designating means for selectively designating musical number data on amusic piece among said plurality of music pieces which are stored insaid .[.memory pack.]. .Iadd.storing means.Iaddend.; a memory.Iadd.means.Iaddend., coupled to said designating means, for storing themusical number data designated by said designating means in thedesignated order; control means, coupled to said .[.memorypack.]..Iadd.storing means .Iaddend.and said memory.Iadd.means.Iaddend., for reading, in the order of the musical numberdata stored in said memory .Iadd.means.Iaddend., the music data in said.[.memory pack.]. .Iadd.storing means .Iaddend.corresponding to themusical number data in said memory .Iadd.means .Iaddend.and foroutputting the music data, said control means executing, when saidcommand data is read out from said .[.memory pack.]. .Iadd.storingmeans.Iaddend., a calculation on the pertinent tone duration tocalculate proper tone duration and to give the pertinent pitch data tosaid reproducing means, in accordance with said proper done duration;and reproducing means, coupled to said control means, for reproducingmusic .Iadd.in .Iaddend.accordance with the music data outputted fromsaid control means.
 8. The auto-playing apparatus according to claim 7,wherein said music data in said memory pack.]. .Iadd.storing means.Iaddend.includes tempo data, said control means sequentially sends saidmusic data to said reproducing means in accordance with said tempo data,and said reproducing means reproduces the music piece with a tempoaccording to said tempo data.
 9. The auto-playing apparatus according toclaim 7, wherein said music data in said .[.memory pack.]. .Iadd.storingmeans .Iaddend.includes repeat data, and said control means repeatedlyreads out the music data according to said repeat data when said repeatdata is read out from said .[.memory pack.]. .Iadd.storingmeans.Iaddend.. .Iadd.10. An auto-playing apparatus of the kindincluding a case containing electronic circuitry, comprising:means forstoring electrical signals in digital form related to music datacorresponding to a plurality of music pieces, and respective musicalnumber data corresponding to each of said plurality of music pieces; akeyboard with keys corresponding, respectively, to a plurality ofpitches to enable execution of a manual play; a switch means forselectively designating one of a manual play and an automatic play, saidautomatic play being performed in accordance with the music data storedin said storing means, some of the keys in said keyboard, when saidswitch means designates the automatic play, being set to operate asdesignating keys for selectively designating musical number datacorresponding to the plurality of the music pieces which are stored insaid storing means; a memory means, coupled to said switch means andsaid designating keys of said keyboard, for storing musical number datain response to operation of said designating keys in said keyboard whensaid switch means designates the automatic play; control means, coupledto said music data storing means and said memory means, for reading themusic data in said storing means corresponding to the musical numberdata in said memory means and for outputting the music data; andreproducing means, coupled to said control means, said keyboard and saidswitch means, for reproducing, when said switch means designates themanual play, the music corresponding to the keys of said keyboard andfor reproducing, when said switch means designates the automatic play,the music in accordance with the music data outputted by said controlmeans..Iaddend. .Iadd.11. The auto-playing apparatus according to claim10, wherein said memory means stores, in designated order, the musicalnumber data on a plurality of music pieces in response to operation ofthe designating keys of said keyboard, and said control means repeatedlyreads in the order of the musical number data stored in said memorymeans the music data in said storing means corresponding to the musicalnumber data in said memory means to output the music data to saidreproducing means..Iaddend.